May long at the Forks

[Fishslayer99]

Made it out to the Forks on Wednesday before may long and packed up on Sunday. Had a great time even though the fishing was slow and the weather wasn't great...both could have been worse!

There is a new boat launch but 95% of it is out of the water because the level is so low (bit of a drop off the end) could be a little sketchy with a big boat unless you know what you are doing (Wayne and Dago had no problem with Dago,s sweet rig)...great to meet you guys!

I spoke to the MD and he said they were going to fix it ASAP, pull some slabs from the top and move them to the bottom, he was taking pictures to show the engineers.

Caught 6 or 7 small sturg 18-26" and one nice one maybe 18-20lb did not measure or weigh just quick picture and back in the water. Caught a decent amount of walleye from the boat biggest was 58cm. Also caught a 13" Prussian carp...not good to see that.

I hope everyone had a safe and memorable May long weekend spent with family and friends....enjoy the pics!

Double header on the Eyes!
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah179/tylerspeed/May%20long%202015%20117_zpsef78mc0x.jpg (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/tylerspeed/media/May%20long%202015%20117_zpsef78mc0x.jpg.html)
My die hard fishing partner
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah179/tylerspeed/May%20long%202015%20119_zpspeu9cfjp.jpg (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/tylerspeed/media/May%20long%202015%20119_zpspeu9cfjp.jpg.html)
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah179/tylerspeed/May%20long%202015%20120_zps7nnkdtdx.jpg (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/tylerspeed/media/May%20long%202015%20120_zps7nnkdtdx.jpg.html)
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah179/tylerspeed/May%20long%202015%20108_zpso0nphsgc.jpg (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/tylerspeed/media/May%20long%202015%20108_zpso0nphsgc.jpg.html)
My other die hard fishing partner, always watching the rods
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah179/tylerspeed/May%20long%202015%20086_zpsxzb7zv4o.jpg (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/tylerspeed/media/May%20long%202015%20086_zpsxzb7zv4o.jpg.html)
Decent shelter to keep the rain offhttp://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah179/tylerspeed/May%20long%202015%20089_zps04cqijtu.jpg (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/tylerspeed/media/May%20long%202015%20089_zps04cqijtu.jpg.html)
Little Dino's
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah179/tylerspeed/May%20long%202015%20090_zpsmj45vovp.jpg (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/tylerspeed/media/May%20long%202015%20090_zpsmj45vovp.jpg.html)
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah179/tylerspeed/May%20long%202015%20093_zpsbsnwl8cu.jpg (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/tylerspeed/media/May%20long%202015%20093_zpsbsnwl8cu.jpg.html)
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah179/tylerspeed/May%20long%202015%20095_zpsl8cfzhdt.jpg (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/tylerspeed/media/May%20long%202015%20095_zpsl8cfzhdt.jpg.html)
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah179/tylerspeed/May%20long%202015%20096_zpslkeau6j5.jpg (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/tylerspeed/media/May%20long%202015%20096_zpslkeau6j5.jpg.html)
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah179/tylerspeed/May%20long%202015%20097_zpska7qanw5.jpg (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/tylerspeed/media/May%20long%202015%20097_zpska7qanw5.jpg.html)
And the salute to the weekend!
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah179/tylerspeed/May%20long%202015%20104_zps4lc0pl1j.jpg (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/tylerspeed/media/May%20long%202015%20104_zps4lc0pl1j.jpg.html)

[FreshAirGetter]

Nice Sturgeon! I still have to catch me one this year...

[the local angler]

love the pics and report, where exactly is this new boat launch? is it right in front of you when you drive up to the river?

[Dale S]

Always nice to meet AO members. You were having better luck from shore than we were in the boat. It's been like that since opening. The walleye and sauger fishing was good for numbers but not size. I caught well over 100 walleye and sauger in 5 days.
Local angler, the boat launch is on the south end of the beach. Straight down from the south entrance to the beach. In the willows.(Use to be willows.)

[dodger]

Nice pics and thanks for the report.

Dodger.

[the local angler]

thanks dago

[Fishslayer99]

Always nice to meet AO members. You were having better luck from shore than we were in the boat. It's been like that since opening. The walleye and sauger fishing was good for numbers but not size. I caught well over 100 walleye and sauger in 5 days.
Local angler, the boat launch is on the south end of the beach. Straight down from the south entrance to the beach. In the willows.(Use to be willows.)

Thanks Dago you have a much better description of where the boat launch is than I would have. Sounds like tough fishing all around for a while now, I'm sure it will pick up soon as well as the water level. Glad the Walleye fishing was decent, kept us busy when the Dino's were not interested. Wouldn't trade it for anything, still had a great time out there and hooking into the sturgeon is well worth the wait no matter how long it takes. Great to see so many smaller ones pulled out as well!

[58thecat]

Wow, had a little bit of everything going on.

[Badback]

Great pics...Thanks for sharing....

[WayneChristie]

nice to meet you guys, awesome dog too. cant believe how slow it still is, but the pike and walleye are keeping me entertained anyways. :sHa_shakeshout: Ive decided I no longer like fluorocarbon leaders, after being bit off with 80 pound braid 4 times in one day I put on the leaders, and still got bit off, maybe the river pike have sharper teeth :bad_boys_20: at least I dont have to drive 3 hours to get to the dinos!

[Ilikefishing]

Good job! But where is the Forks?

[Fishfinder]

nice to meet you guys, awesome dog too. cant believe how slow it still is, but the pike and walleye are keeping me entertained anyways. :sHa_shakeshout: Ive decided I no longer like fluorocarbon leaders, after being bit off with 80 pound braid 4 times in one day I put on the leaders, and still got bit off, maybe the river pike have sharper teeth :bad_boys_20: at least I dont have to drive 3 hours to get to the dinos!

Wayne, do I need to show u how it's done!! I caught 45 sturgeon on Sunday all over 50". What's your problem??

Kidding. Caught a handful of walleye on Sunday. That's it. Sturg are being a bit elusive. Aka) water levels n temps.
It is pretty slow around the Hat too. The ones being caught are on the larger side though:)
Give it a couple weeks though, they'll be coming.
Till then, I will chase trout on the fly.

Anyway..my main point of posting was to say I am glad the MD is constantly visiting the forks. It's a great spot and needs to be monitored. Too many fisherpeeps and not enough water. Oh wait.... That's our entire province!:thinking-006:

[Fishfinder]

Good job! But where is the Forks?

Next to the spoons.

[Fishfinder]

Grrrrr. Not sure how I feel about these carp in MY(haha)river. The fact that they have travelled so far in such a short time span concerns me. I don't know much about them, but I can't help but worry.

I guess until they are recognized in the regs, we put them back, correct?

I hope they do no harm. Don't really want to get into the sport of killing fish. Are they good eats at least?

[Fishslayer99]

The Forks is where the Bow and Oldman come together to form the South Saskatchewan river. It is north of the town of Grassy lakes off hyway #3

As far as the carp, I have heard mixed reviews on whether they are good eating, they are likely not going to be recognized in the regs as they are invasive. I was told by esrd to not put them back, kill them immediately and make sure they are dead. That is exactly what I did, the one I caught happened to be packed with eggs.

[Fishslayer99]

nice to meet you guys, awesome dog too. cant believe how slow it still is, but the pike and walleye are keeping me entertained anyways. :sHa_shakeshout: Ive decided I no longer like fluorocarbon leaders, after being bit off with 80 pound braid 4 times in one day I put on the leaders, and still got bit off, maybe the river pike have sharper teeth :bad_boys_20: at least I dont have to drive 3 hours to get to the dinos!

Yea she is a great dog, you must be getting into some big pike around there to bite you off. I only saw one pulled out while we were there but it was 12-15lb, and there are some lunkers in there for sure. 3 hour drive does suck, shredded a camper tire on the way out so it was more like 4! you do have it good living so close Wayne!

[EZM]

nice to meet you guys, awesome dog too. cant believe how slow it still is, but the pike and walleye are keeping me entertained anyways. :sHa_shakeshout: Ive decided I no longer like fluorocarbon leaders, after being bit off with 80 pound braid 4 times in one day I put on the leaders, and still got bit off, maybe the river pike have sharper teeth :bad_boys_20: at least I dont have to drive 3 hours to get to the dinos!

That surprised me to read that .... (assuming your 80 lb fluorocarbon was the part that was bitten off by pike).

I have NEVER been bitten off using material specifically designed as fluorocarbon LEADER material - not just regular fluorocarbon line ..... the stuff that comes in 25 yd rolls and cost like 10 times as much versus regular fluorocarbon line.

25 yards of 80 lb - the kind I've used - runs around $40 and should make about 30 leaders.

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/Berkley%C2%AE-ProSpec%C2%AE-100%25-Fluoro-Leader-Mat/1290572,default,pd.html

The key point is .....

There is a difference in Leader versus Line material despite the fact both base materials are/use fluorocarbon resins.It is definitely confusing and not very clear.

Not all "leader" materials seem to be the same - I've used some brands (P-Line Fluorocarbon Leader) that got shredded quickly - like after a half dozen fish - so I switched back to the Berkley stuff - which seems to be my "go to" brand.

I also don't like to use anything less than 80 lb - although I have tied up 40 and 60's before = but when specifically targeting pike - it's 80 lb for me.

For me - so far - so good ......knock on wood ..... 3-4 years .....probably over 1000 pike and not one single bite off.

[greylynx]

Thanks for the most excellent pictures.

They are even better with the pretty girls and nice doggies in them.:sHa_shakeshout:

[Battery]

Is that dog a mastiff? Hard to tell.

[Fishslayer99]

Thanks for the most excellent pictures.

They are even better with the pretty girls and nice doggies in them.:sHa_shakeshout:

Is that dog a mastiff? Hard to tell.

Thanks greylynx...they keep me on my toes, both of them!
yea Battery she is a mastiff, Presa Canario to be exact. Most friendly family loving dog I have ever owned, she is like a 110lb baby. She is protective when she needs to be though, loves my kids more than me...she doesn't take to kindly to me wrestling with them.

[WayneChristie]

That surprised me to read that .... (assuming your 80 lb fluorocarbon was the part that was bitten off by pike).

I have NEVER been bitten off using material specifically designed as fluorocarbon LEADER material - not just regular fluorocarbon line ..... the stuff that comes in 25 yd rolls and cost like 10 times as much versus regular fluorocarbon line.

25 yards of 80 lb - the kind I've used - runs around $40 and should make about 30 leaders.

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/Berkley%C2%AE-ProSpec%C2%AE-100%25-Fluoro-Leader-Mat/1290572,default,pd.html

The key point is .....

There is a difference in Leader versus Line material despite the fact both base materials are/use fluorocarbon resins.It is definitely confusing and not very clear.

Not all "leader" materials seem to be the same - I've used some brands (P-Line Fluorocarbon Leader) that got shredded quickly - like after a half dozen fish - so I switched back to the Berkley stuff - which seems to be my "go to" brand.

I also don't like to use anything less than 80 lb - although I have tied up 40 and 60's before = but when specifically targeting pike - it's 80 lb for me.

For me - so far - so good ......knock on wood ..... 3-4 years .....probably over 1000 pike and not one single bite off.

it really was the leader material, I have a feeling its because I only use smaller 4/0 hooks and smaller bait than I normally use for pike. :thinking-006: